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MSU Urban IPM Alerts

During late summer and early fall it is normal for spiders to enter buildings and homes. This includes hobo spiders which have long been prevalent in Montana. Common misconceptions about the hobo spider often cause unnecessary concern.

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (SWD), is a pest of many ripe and overripe small fruits. It is currently established in Lake and Flathead Counties. In 2018, it was collected in Ravalli, Missoula, and Gallatin counties. Its presence in other counties, such as Yellowstone, is also suspected.

The Schutter Diagnostic Lab is receiving garden vegetable samples showing symptoms consistent with synthetic auxin, also known as plant growth regulator, herbicide injury. In many of these cases, we suspect carryover of persistent herbicides in garden amendments such as compost, manure, or topsoil. See the attached document for more information.

Montana has several home-invading weevils that come into our homes starting in April and all the way through November. They are harmless to humans, are not wood-boring beetles, and are mostly just a nuisance in homes. These invasions are only temporary.